Golf practice device



Feb. 4, 1969 A. EDWARDS GOLF PRACTICE DEVICE Filed Nov. 21, 1966 United States Patent 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A golf ball suspended by a flexible cord from an arm extending outward and downward from the upper end of a vertically adjustable support secured in a fixed position by stakes passing through a base portion thereof. The lower end of the arm curves inward toward the support and defines a nose portion having an outwardly facing convex surface. One end of the ball suspension cord passes through the outward surface of the nose portion to an adjustment mechanism on the inward side of the arm. This adjustment mechanism permits the cord to be let in or out through the nose portion. The other end of the cord passes through a diametrical hole in the ball and is knotted to fit into a recess at one end of the diametrical hole.

This invention relates to apparatus for providing driving practice for golfers and, in accordance with the invention, such apparatus comprises a rigid support which has fixings for securing it to a ground or wall surface, a supporting arm which extends at an inclination away from the top of the support downwards and outwards to an outwardly facing convex nose from which a golf ball is suspended at the end of a cord, no part of the arm extending outwards beyond the nose and the upper surface of the arm between the nose and the top of the support being smooth so that when the ball swings on the cord about the nose in a substantially vertical plane substantially perpendicular to the vertical plane containing the arm, there is no projection on the top of the arm to be fouled by the cord and when the ball has stopped swinging it will resume its original suspended position beneath the nose.

This apparatus has a simple but effective construction which can safely be used indoors or outdoors, because the golf ball is captive on the end of the cord, but in which the feel of the ball leaving the club represents as nearly as possible that when a ball is struck on a golf course, When the ball is hit, it swings on the cord in a vertical plan passing through th nose and the inclination of the plane to the direction in which the ball was intended to be driven gives the golfer a direct indication of whether he has pulled or sliced his drive. The number of rotations which the ball and cord make about the nose before coming to rest again gives a rough indication of the power with which the ball was hit and hence the distance it would, under other circumstances, have travelled.

Most simply the support is a post extending upwards from the base plate which is provided in positions around the post with stakes for driving into the ground. Preferably the post then slides telescopically through a tubular portion of the base to which it is keyed against rotation and is adjustable in height.

Adjustment may be provided for taking in or letting out the cord from the nose to adjust the height of the ball from the ground to accommodate the different heights at which different golfers tee their balls up from the ground.

One example of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus;

FIGURE 2 is -a side elevation of the apparatus with parts in section; and,

FIGURE 3 is a vertical diammetrical section through the golf ball and part of its cord.

The apparatus consists of an upright tubular steel post 4 which has an inclined cutting face 5 at its bottom so that it can be driven into the ground 6. The post 4 is shaped and extends telescopically through a tubular portion 7 to which it is keyed and which is formed as an integral casting with three feet 8. Each of the feet 8 is provided with a tubulartoe 9 through which a stake 10 can be driven into the ground to provide extra stability. A bolt 11 passes through two diametrically opposite holes in the tubular portion 7 and through an axial slot inthe post 4 so that the post 4 can be adjusted in height relatively to the base and secured at a desired height.

A tubular steel arm 12 which is welded to the top of the post 4 extends at a 30 inclination away from the top of the post and is bent to form a convex nose 13 together with a downwardly and inwardly extending tail 14. The tail 14 and the top of the post 4-are closed with push-on caps 15 and 16 respectively.

A Phosphor bronze bush 17 having a part-spherical head 18 extends through a central hole in the nose 13 and is secured in position by means of a circlip 19. A nylon cord 20 extends through the bush 17 and carries at one end a golf ball 21 a short distance above a separate rubber mat 22 resting on the ground.

At its other end the cord 20 extends through and is knotted behind, a hole in a finger 23 which is pivoted on a bracket 24 carried by the arm 12 and which has a tapped opening through which a screw 25 screws. When the screw 25 is screwed through the finger 23, the reaction between the screw and the back of the arm 12 causes the finger 23 to pivot downwards and backwards about the bracket 24 and draw the cord 20 up and through the bush 17 thus raising the ball 21 from the ground. Reverse rotation of the screw 25 lowers the ball.

At its lower end the cord 20 is loosely surrounded by a protective sleeve 26 which rests on the ball. The ball has a solid rubber core 27 with a diametrical passage 28 through it leading to an enlarged entrance 29 at its lower end. At this end the cord 20 is twice knotted at 30 and the knots are fused before the cord is drawn back through the ball so that the fused knots are received within the enlarged entrance 29. The core 27 is covered with a conventional wound elastic and moulded plastic cover 31.

When the ball is struck in practice by a club, such as a driver, it swings on the cord around the head 18 of the bush 17 and the nose 13 in a substantially vertical plane and should this plane be other than perpendicular to the vertical plane containing the arm 12, the cord 20 will come down on the upper smooth surface of the arm 12 from which it will be guided back down to its original suspended position with the ball 21 immediately beneath the nose 13. The smooth inclination of the under surface of the tail 14 also :assists this action and I find that it is virtually impossible for the cord 20 to tie itself round the arm 12, as a result of the ball being hit by a golf club.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for providing driving practice for golfers, said apparatus comprising a rigid substantially vertically extending support, means for securing said support to a horizontal surface, a rigid arm immovably connected to the upper end of said support and extending continuously downward and outward therefrom to a nose having an outwardly facing convex surface on the downward end of said arm, a golf ball, and a flexible cord having a first end secured to said golf ball and a second end passing through said outwardly facing convex surface to an attachment point suspending said ball from said nose, no part of said arm extending outwards beyond said nose and the upper surface of said arm between said nose and said upper end of said support being smooth so that when said ball swings on said cord about said nose in a substantially vertical plane, there is no projection on the upper surface of said arm to foul said cord and when said ball has stopped swinging it will resume its original suspended position beneath said nose.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said support is a post extending upwards from a base extending around said post, and said securing means comprise stakes passing through said base at Spaced positions around said post.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said base includes a tubular portion and said post is telescopically slidable through said tubular portion for vertically height adjustments and keyed to said tubular portion to prevent rotation relative thereto.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said support and arm are made of tubular steel.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said nose is formed by a downwardly and backwardly bent portion of said tubular arm and a hollow bushing extends through the forward extremity of said nose and has an outwardly facing convex head engaging the outwardly facing surface of said nose, said first end of said cord passing through said outwardly facing end of said hollow bushing and being connected to adjusting means on the inward 4 side of said arm permitting the cord to be taken in or let out through said bushing to adjust the height of said ball above a horizontal surface.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said adjusting means consists of a finger, means pivotally mounting one end of said finger on said arm, means coupling the other end of said finger to said second end of said cord, and a screw which screws through said finger and, engages the back of said arm so that when said screw is turned into or out of said finger it causes said finger to swing about its pivot and to take in or let out said cord.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first end of said cord passes through a first end of a diametrical hole in said ball and is knotted and received in a recess at the other end of said diametrical hole.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 457,018 8/1891 Walsh 27395. 793,002 6/1905 Martin 273-95 3,194,557 7/1965 Halley 273200 X 3,367,655 2/1968 Na-vran 27395 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

G. I. MARLO, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 

